Live-action ‘Aladdin,’ not just a remake

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Rub the lamp, and the Genie who lives inside will grant you three wishes.

This is the most famous and popular plot of Walt Disney's animation "Aladdin." Released in 1992, the folk tale originated from the Middle East household.

Poster of "Aladdin" in 1992. /Douban Photo‍

The live-action "Aladdin" releases in China on Friday, May 24, despite the tepid review of Western movie buffs, Chinese fans still hold a great expectation for the film.

Set in the fictional desert kingdom of Agrabah, "Aladdin" follows the adventures of a young street urchin Aladdin, plucky princess Jasmine, and the omnipotent Genie who lives inside a lamp.

Directed by Guy Ritchie, the team has set several highlights for the live-action "Aladdin" to avoid being a copy of the animation.

Will Smith, the hip-hop swagger Genie

A still from Walt Disney's live-action "Aladdin." /Douban Photo

"Aladdin" marks Will Smith's first character in a Walt Disney film. When asked to play the role of the Genie, one of Aladdin's most iconic characters, Smith had some concerns.

"What Robin Williams did with this character – he just didn't leave a lot of room to add to the Genie. So I started off fearful, but then when I got with the music, it just started waking up that fun, childlike, silly part of me," Smith said to media ahead of the release of the film.

Director Ritchie has designed a new style of Genie, whose personality is designed to base on the Star's brand – a more comedic role.

It is worth mentioning that the role of the Genie in the original animation is just a simple punchline character, while the live-action version creates a more substantial background story for Smith so that his character also has a complete narrative side story.

Naomi Scott's Jasmine, a redefined Disney princess

A still from Walt Disney's live-action "Aladdin." /Douban Photo

Despite her beautiful look, the character of Princess Jasmine is also standing apart from the original version, where her main concern is to choose a husband.

In Ritchie's "Aladdin," Princess Jasmine dreams of fighting the patriarchal traditions and ruling the kingdom of Agrabah.

"This is a Jasmine for the era of female presidential candidates and the #MeToo movement, reflecting broader societal shifts in gender norms and expectations over the past 27 years," the Los Angeles Times reported.

Gorgeous setting

A still from Walt Disney's live-action "Aladdin." /Douban Photo

To bring the fictional Arabian realm of Agrabah into life took the team of Guy Ritchie a lot of work.

The film is said to have taken 15 weeks to set up a busy market in Agrabah, 250 dancers, 200 extras and 37,000 flowers for the scene in which Aladdin arrived at the palace, to achieve a stunning visual effect.

Aladdin got 7.7 points out of ten on Douban. /Screenshot of Douban

On China's film rating website Douban, "Aladdin" has scored 7.7 points out of 10. Many fans point out that the scene in the film is stunning. Some fans even compared the dancing and singing scene to China's Spring Festival Gala.

"A bustling Arabian gala, which is very enjoyable," commented a fan on Douban.